How can I assign an element to variable?

Question

For example: I want to create shortcut to element array

var $artifacts = $('.game-artifact');

but atm there aren't any elements with such class. Then comes some code, which adds elements. The question is if, after I add these elements will variable $artifacts still refer to them or it will remain null? If so, how I manage to assign a reference to function to a variable?

Answer 1

It will remain empty. You can update the reference once you have already added the elements:

// add elements
artifacts = $('.game-artifact');

Take a look at fiddle.

Answer 2

You can wrap it with function which will return current elements:

var artifacts = function(){
  return $('.game-artifact');
};

var $artifacts = artifacts();

Answer 3

You should use .get() over accessing the array directly, to avoid out of bound errors.

var lists = $("body li");
console.log(lists.length);  // returns 20
console.log(lists.get(25)); // returns undefined.
console.log(lists[25]);     // Generates an error.